TWO INJURIES PUT O-LINE AT DISADVANTAGE EARLY IN GAME

Green aggravates hamstring, while Clary hurts left knee

On Sunday, the Chargers opposed it while missing two of their starting offensive linemen for most the game.

Right tackle Jeromey Clary injured his left knee on the offense’s second play, and despite his effort to strap up a brace and return to the sideline in full uniform, he was physically unable to return. Left guard Tyronne Green’s afternoon also ended in the first half, aggravating a hamstring injury in a 20-13 loss.

Kevin Haslam filled in for Clary.

Rex Hadnot entered for Green.

The Chargers allowed four sacks in the game, including a strip-fumble of quarterback Philip Rivers late in the fourth quarter. There wasn’t much to be had on the ground, where running back Ryan Mathews had nine carries for 26 yards, his lowest totals in a game since 2010.

Rivers had two carries for 20 yards, leading the team in rushing at one point in the third quarter.

During a postgame media conference, a reporter asked coach Norv Turner why the run game struggled.

“The questions that get asked sometimes are pretty obvious,” Turner said. “When you start moving people around in there — you see Jeromey Clary get helped off in the first part, you’ve got a young guy in Michael Harris playing at left tackle who has been outstanding in terms of what he’s capable of doing, you see Tyronne come off — then that probably would answer the question for you.

“If I need to spell it out better, that is probably a big part of it. I’m not going to take away from the effort those guys are giving or how hard they’re competing. ... I don’t know if I’m going to look at it and say Ryan had a lot of room to run.”

Clary gave pointers on the sideline to Haslam.

The third-year player played his first game since his 2010 rookie season, when he was active for five games with the Jaguars. Sunday was the most action he’s seen in a game since his college days at Rutgers.

Clary injured his knee during a short-yardage Mathews run, his leg getting rolled up. Entering the game, he missed just one snap since the end of the 2010 season, and it was because of an equipment issue earlier this season.

The 29-year-old will undergo an MRI today.

“I got taped and braced to see if I could handle it,” Clary said of returning to the game. “I wouldn’t have put the team in the best situation if I would have went out there and tried. I didn’t want to hurt myself any worse or get someone else hurt because I played through it.

“That’s not something I really like to do. I hate to miss a game. This is the first time I’ve ever had to do that, so it’s a learning experience. Hopefully the picture is good and I get out there next week.”

Draft picks debut

Mouton’s first tackle of his career was in coverage. On his first defensive snap, he rushed Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton on third-and-goal to force a field goal.

The 2011 second-round pick played because Donald Butler (groin) was inactive. Taylor, a rookie third-round choice, played two defensive snaps.

“It felt all right, but you want to get the win,” Taylor said. “That’s the main goal. It’s not about one individual player.”

Nuts ’n’ Bolts

• The Broncos clinched the AFC West with a 31-23 home win over the Buccaneers.

• Wide receiver Danario Alexander caught six of 10 passes for 102 yards. It’s the fifth straight game he’s led the team in receiving yardage.

• With Demorrio Williams’ second-quarter interception, the Chargers defense has five picks for touchdowns this season, second most in franchise history. The team record is nine, set in 1961. The unit also has recovered a fumble in the end zone and forced a safety this season for 44 points on the year.

• With linebackers Jarret Johnson (back) and Butler (groin) among the defenders inactive, the Chargers fell to 0-5 when allowing more than 115 yard rushing yards in a game. The Bengals had 128. Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed 25 times for 118 yards with a long of 41.

• Chargers wide receiver Seyi Ajirotutu left the stadium with his right hand in a cast. He suffered one of five injuries the team reported: Clary (knee), safety Corey Lynch (quad), Harris (ankle) and center David Molk (thumb).